Pacific Scoresheet (pdf) | California Scoresheet (pdf)

IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 6 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine water polo team opened the UC Irvine Invitational on a hot streak Saturday at Corona Del Mar High School, scoring two big wins over ranked foes No. 12 Pacific, 7-6, and No. 3 California, 7-6.

The Rainbow Wahine opened up against Pacific in the first round of the tournament, battling through five lead changes and four ties, taking the upper hand in the second half.

The Tigers took to the scoreboard first in the opening stanza, with freshman Viktoria Szmodics putting up the game's first score with 6:18 on the clock in the first quarter. The Rainbow Wahine made two quick strikes in the closing moments of the quarter, as Riverside, Calif. junior Nikki-Marie Bell evened the score with :31 to go, while Barcelona, Spain freshman Irene Gonzalez granted UH the lead with 10 seconds to go.

As the teams swayed the score in the first half, UP sophomore Rachel Krieger provided the final Tigers lead of the contest at 4-3, hitting a goal at 5:02 in the third. With 3:51 on the clock, Bell knotted the score at 4-4.

Weyburn, Canada junior Taylor Molde moved the Rainbow Wahine ahead for the final time with :01 showing on the third quarter clock, sparking a UH scoring run, with Gonzalez and Bell pushing the Rainbow Wahine to its largest advantage at 7-5.

Pacific kept pace, countering with goals in the fourth quarter, tacking up a final score with :02 to go, but the Rainbow Wahine held on for the 7-6 victory.
Bell notched three goals apiece, while Gonzalez tabbed two scores and four steals. Taking care of the net, Montreal, Canada sophomore goalie Ymane Hage recorded 10 blocks against the Tigers.

Scoring By Quarters
Hawai'i  –    2     1     2     2   =  7       
Pacific  –     1     2     1     2   =  6
UH Scoring vs. Pacific: Bell 3, Gonzalez 2, Kotylak 1, Molde 1
 
After topping Pacific, the Rainbow Wahine matched up with California, who triumphed over UC Santa Barbara in the opening game, again facing a gritty struggle from start to finish against the Bears.
 
Courtesy of scores from Gonzalez and Oostzaan, Netherlands freshman Femke Aan in the opening quarter, UH jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Bears fired back with successive goals from seniors Molly Quinn and Pippa Saunders to knot it up at 2-2.

Heading into the half, Cal pulled ahead 4-3, but UH controlled the third quarter, netting goals from Aan and Gonzalez.

Cal regained the advantage, but UH fired right back as Seal Beach, Calif. sophomore Erika Pauley logged her first goal of the tournament just 30 seconds later. Cal sophomore Carla Carrega provided the final Bears goal with 4:43 remaining to make it 6-6, but again UH responded, Aan putting away the go-ahead extraman goal with 4:04 on the clock.

The Rainbow Wahine held the line defensively across the final minutes, ending the game in a 7-6 victory over the third-ranked Bears.
Aan paced the Rainbow Wahine with clutch scoring, putting up three goals, while Gonzalez and Pauley each registered a pair.

With the victory, UH moves on to the UC Invitational semifinals, setting up a rematch with No. 2 UCLA, who defeated No. 19 San Diego State and No. 7 Michigan. The Rainbow Wahine dropped the first meeting, 13-8, in the opening week of the season. Sunday's (Feb. 28) matchup with the Bruins is set for 11:45 a.m. PT (9:45 a.m. HT) at the Anteater Aquatics Complex.

The winner will meet the victor between No. 1 Southern Cal and No. 4 Stanford at 5:15 p.m. PT (3:15 p.m. HT), the loser of the matches will meet in the third place game at 4:00 p.m. PT (2:00 p.m. HT).

Scoring By Quarters
Cal        –     1     1     2     2   =  6
Hawai'i  –    2     2     1     2   =  7       
UH Scoring vs. California: Aan 3, Gonzalez 2, Pauley 2